Event Details

The Earth and Space Science Laboratory invite you, MAPS friends and colleagues, to join us July 17-20 in Frederick Maryland for what will be a historic conference. The meeting will be a great time of camaraderie and professional development, plus the chance to shop, dine, and discover historic cities and towns, wineries, orchards, and Civil War heritage sites in Frederick County. MAPS selected its name here in 1965 with a much smaller membership and simpler technology.

Livefest! - Preceding MAPS, Tuesday July 16, our facility will host a special small dome workshop sponsored by Powerful Interactive Planetarium Systems (PIPS) and MAPS. Livefest! will focus on lessons and guidance for portable and small dome educational presenters. See enclosed info page for more details.

Generous support from our sponsors has again allowed a low registration cost. The full registration is $130 before June 8. Take advantage of their support and expertise by joining us in the rich cultural region of Frederick County. Please make your plans early. Frederick is a great city and county if you would like to bring your family! Come early and stay late!

See you under the stars at Frederick,

Patty Seaton, MAPS President

Jeff Grills and Mark Bowman, Your ESSL Hosts

Our facility: The Earth and Space Science Laboratory (ESSL) includes a Digistar 3/ Goto-Chronos Hybrid Planetarium Projector; 35 foot horizontal dome with seating for 90. Two classrooms, an elaborate salt water aquarium system, and a variety of life, physical, and earth science displays complete the facility.A two acre arboretum and a 15’ observatory are a part of the campus and will be available for the conference. The vendor hall will be housed in the gymnasium at the adjacent school. The cafeteria will be available for certain presentations.Vacation time too: Summer time is a perfect time to take in historic Frederick County. The tourist board even has apps for a visitor guide, walking tour, and Maryland Civil War trails for your i-stuff and androids. Check out the site www.frederick.org for those- and more- to plan your visit. Plus, Frederick is about an hour from either Washington D.C. or Baltimore.Our conference hotel: Just 2.5mi. from the ESSL, has extended a low group rate for our members as long as they reserve by June 15. Contact them - Holiday Inn Frederick-Conf Ctr. at Francis Scott Key Mall, 5400 Holiday Drive, Frederick, MD 21703 Phone: (301) 694-7500 Fax: (301) 694-0589. NOTE: Not the Holiday Inn Express.

Travel directions to hotel:

Driving: From I-270 Exit 31A to Rt 85 N. Turn right at first light (Spectrum Drive). Bear right immediately onto Holiday Drive. Hotel is on the right. From I-70 Exit 53A to I-270 S. Take exit 31A to Rt 85 N. Turn right at first light (Spectrum Drive). Bear right immediately onto Holiday Drive. Hotel is on the right. By air: Shuttles are available for $85 from three airports: Dulles (IAD), Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA).

Participate and Contribute:There are three major ways to bring your talent and unique experience to the stage in a MAPS conference. Plenary talks are short 10-12 minute talks with or without hand-outs to the general group and a short question period. Some subjects for a number of reasons are better presented with display boards, hand-outs and one-to-one conversation and a Poster paper display allows that with a dedicated period of viewing. Workshops are longer 45-90 minute engaging sessions when small groups explore specific subjects together with a leader. Proposal forms for these are located in the Delegate Registration Packet and the Program Committee welcomes one or more with your registration. And you can send them ahead of your registration form to help our hosts with scheduling.

Style and Etiquette:Conference attire is generally work day casual but July 2013 will be a summer casual event. Many choose formal / coat-and-tie dress for the banquet Friday night. Weather typically will be hot and humid but all facilities are climate controlled. In light of the tech culture of the 21st Century: As a professional courtesy to all speakers, please turn off cell phones, tablets, and pagers during presentations. Texting, surfing or talking during talks are distracting to all participants.